By: Jennifer Brown
Paperback: 432 pages
Published: August 11th 2009
Synopsis: Five months ago, Valerie
Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot
trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate,
but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped
create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used
to pick his targets.
Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life. -Goodreads.com
Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life. -Goodreads.com
So often I read to escape. I read to go to faraway times,
alternate realities and places where everyone behaves predictably (either good
or bad) Unfortunately life is unpredictable and things happen for reasons we will
never understand. This book takes you there and I am happy I went. This story
is about bad tragic things happening because right or wrong they do. Thankfully
the character Valerie is taken on the journey of recovering as difficult and
sometimes impossible it seems, not bogging down on understanding the past. This
book reminded me that unfortunately, I need face through fears and consequences
of my actions and sometimes the actions of others. I need to move on regardless
of my situation. This is a powerful book and is on the “Must Discuss” list when
my daughter reads this. This book took me on an emotional roller coaster and
spun me around so much there were times I was not sure who was right or wrong,
sometimes life is like that. I think this book realistically and thoughtfully
addresses bullying and though the storyline is extreme to the nth degree. I
could relate to it so much. It really spoke to me.
